Today's research, tomorrow's breakthroughs.
Vannevar Bush stated in his seminal report, Science: the Endless Frontier that:
“Basic research leads to new knowledge. It provides scientific capital. It creates the fund from which the practical applications of knowledge must be drawn. New products and new processes do not appear full-grown. They are founded on new principles and new conceptions, which in turn are painstakingly developed by research in the purest realms of science.”
It is with these concepts in mind, that the Basic Research Office (BRO) approaches its role in oversight and management of DoD’s basic research investments. Additionally, BRO sets scientific priorities aimed toward ensuring DoD is a leader in scientific discovery and identifying new paths for investigation. The office is responsible for setting Department policy for grants, and manages programs including: the Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship, the Defense Established Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research Program, and Historically Black Colleges & Universities/Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program, as well as a number of transition activities meant to rethink the Department’s approach to managing and maturing basic research investments.